Cattle guard foe railroads



(No Model;)

R. H. BUSHING.- GATTLE GUARD FOB. RAILROADS.

Patented June 25,1895.

Wirzeases. 2 I d m: Noam; PETERS 00., wnoTo-umq. WASHINGTON, n. c.,

UNITE STATE-s PATENT Trice.

ROBERT HENDERSON BUSHING, OF TENNESSEE CITY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO WV. E. CULLUM AND J. W. HUTOHINSON, OE DICKSON COUNTY,

TENNESSEE.

CATTLE-GUARD FOR RAILR OADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,688, dated June 25, 1895.

Application filed March 29, 1895. Serial No. 543,690. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENDERSON BUSHING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tennessee City, in the county of Dickson, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oattle-Guards for Railroads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in cattle guards for railroads.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device, showing same in operation. Fig. 2 is an end View showing one of the latforms in a raised position. Fig. Sis a cross-section through line or as, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A are rail stringers on which the rails B are laid. Beneath these rail stringers are cross ties O, the central one of which is somewhat higher than the others as shown at o, for a purpose, hereinafter described. At each side of the stringers are secured what I term guard strips D having sharp or beveled upper edges, these guard strips being welded at the bottom edges of a series of tie-bars E lying on top of the ties and preferably bolted to the same. At each or side stringer F, and on the inside of these stringers are secured guard strips D" also sepaiiels H, and fences, as in the with theirinward extending ends much thinner than the outward extending ends, and the trunnions are located nearer the outer ends, the whole construction being such that the inner ends are only slightly heavier than the outer ones, so as to hold the platforms in their normal positions, yet permitting them to tilt readily when stepped upon by cattle or other animals, whereby the platforms rise up and prevent farther progress of the animal across the guard. The inner ends of the platform meet and rest upon a central cross tie c which being higher than the others holds the platforms in their normal positions which is practically horizontal. v

At each side of the guard are placed guard usual construction.

It is to be specially noted that in my construction the guard strips project above the stringers to prevent the cattle from walking on said stringers, and are welded to the bars, as before described. This holds the guard strips from working sidewise or springing toward or from each other as is common in those cattle guards with which I am acquainted.

' Moreover, the guard strips also perform the function of carrying the trunnions of the platforms and being welded to the bars, as before mentioned, they cannot shift longitudinally independent of each other, whereby all danger of throwing the two bearings of each platform out of alignment is avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cattle guard, the combination, with a series of cross ties, a series of tie-bars carried on the ties, a pair of rail stringers and a pair of side stringers, of a series of guard strips parallel to the stringers and projecting above them, said guard strips being welded to the tie-bars, and a series oftilting platforms trunnioned on the guard-strips, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a cattle guard, the combination, with a pair of rail stringers and a series of guard trunnions located nearer the outer ends,snbstrips projecting above the stringers and prostantially as and for the purpose described. [0 vided with bearings and with knife edges, of In testimony whereof I affix my signature a series of platforms provided with cross bars in presence of two witnesses.

5 on their under sides, which cross bars have ROBERT HENDERSON BUSHING.

arbors resting in the hearings in the guard Witnesses: strips, the platforms being thinner at their WyI'I. LEONARD,

inner ends than at their outer ends, and the F. M. LUCAS. 

